PhrasesHub

Panic stations

    Definitions

      • feeling of urgency and chaos
        Describing a situation where there is a sudden rush to take action or make decisions in response to a crisis or unexpected event

      • high stress or anxiety
        Expressing a state of heightened stress or anxiety, often in anticipation of a difficult or challenging situation

    Examples of Panic stations

    • The ice cream truck was playing its jingle down the street, and the kids in the neighborhood started running towards it in a frenzy. The mom panicked, thinking that there was a fire or some other emergency, and rushed outside to check.

      "Panic stations" is an idiom that means to react in a state of extreme panic or chaos, particularly in a situation that does not actually require such a response. In this example, the mom mistook the sound of the ice cream truck for an emergency, causing her to panic and rush outside.

    • The CEO announced that the company would be downsizing and letting go of a significant number of employees. Chaos ensued as the remaining staff members panicked, fearing for their own job security.

      In this example, the news of the company downsizing caused panic among the staff, as the idiom "panic stations" signifies.

    • The teacher accidentally spilled a glass of water on his notes, causing them to become illegible. The students immediately began to panic, thinking that the test was cancelled.

      When the teacher's notes became illegible due to the water spill, the students mistakenly assumed that it meant the cancellation of the test, causing them to panic.

    • The airline announced a delay in the flight schedule, causing all passengers to panic as they worried about missing their connecting flights.

      The passengers panicked when they heard of the flight delay because it caused them to worry about the potential for missing their connecting flights. The idiom "panic stations" is used here to describe the extreme state of anxiety and worry that the passengers were in because of the flight delay.

    • The store ran out of power during a thunderstorm, and customers started panicking and pushing each other in a frenzy at the checkout counters. The manager quickly announced over the intercom, "Panic stations, everyone remain calm and wait in line peacefully!"

      In this example, "Panic stations" is used to warn people of an impending chaotic situation and to ask them to stay calm and not contribute to the chaos.

    • During a presentation, the speaker's laptop crashed, and everyone groaned as the screen went black. The speaker calmly said, "I'm afraid we've hit panic stations here, but don't worry, I've got backup slides ready to go!"

      Here, "Panic stations" is used to acknowledge that a serious problem has occurred, but the speaker is confident that they have a solution to prevent things from getting out of control.

    • The team's coach lost his cool during a game when they fell behind by several points. The players looked worried, and the coach encouraged them, "Okay, this is panic stations, but we've got this! Let's dig deep and fight back!"

      In this example, "Panic stations" is used to signify that a critical situation has arisen, but the team's coach is reassuring his players that they can overcome the obstacle if they stay focused and determined.

    • After a failed experiment at the lab, the scientists gathered to discuss the next steps. The head of the lab shouted, "Panic stations, folks! We need to regroup and figure out a new approach!"

      This example shows how "Panic stations" can be used to signal a sudden crisis, and the person making the announcement is urging everyone to take immediate and decisive action to overcome the issue.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "panic stations" is used to convey a sense of urgency and chaos in a situation. It can describe a sudden rush to take action in response to a crisis, or express a state of high stress and anxiety. It is often used in informal language to emphasize the need for immediate action or to convey a sense of urgency in a stressful situation.

    The phrase is commonly used in both spoken and written English, and it is often used in a lighthearted or humorous way to describe a situation that is causing stress or chaos. It is a vivid and descriptive idiom that effectively communicates a sense of urgency and anxiety.

    Origin of "Panic stations"

    The origin of the idiom "panic stations" is not well-documented, but it is believed to have originated in the military. It likely stems from the idea of a military command center, or "station," where urgent and critical decisions are made in response to a crisis or emergency. Over time, the phrase has been adopted into everyday language to convey a sense of urgency and chaos in various situations. Its use in informal language reflects its origin in a more formal and structured setting, but it has become a widely understood and commonly used idiom in English.